Quarter turn panel fastener

Abstract

The fastener includes a head with an oval-shaped base. The head is supported by a cylindrical post and includes overhanging or cantilevered portions along the major axis of the oval-shaped base. These overhanging portions are ramped and face a first seal. The head engages a slot in a panel by first being inserted therethrough and then being twisted by one quarter turn so that the edges of the slot are engaged between the first seal and the cantilevered portions. Flex tabs lock the head in place. The fastener further includes a cylindrical retainer with flexible retaining fingers which is inserted by a linear motion into an aperture in another panel, thereby engaging the panel between the retaining fingers and the second seal.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fastener including: 
       a head with an oval shaped cross section;  
       a post supporting said head, wherein diametrically opposed cantilevered portions of said head defined by said oval shaped cross section extend outwardly from said post;  
       a first seal supported by said post thereby defining a space between said seal and said cantilevered portions for engaging a first panel therebetween, wherein said first seal forms a sealing relationship with the first panel about an entire periphery of said first seal;  
       a second seal supported by said post, separated from said first seal; and  
       a cylindrical retainer including flexible elements for engaging a second panel between said flexible elements and said second seal, wherein said second seal forms a sealing relationship with the second panel about an entire periphery of said second seal.  
     
     
       2. The fastener of  claim 1  wherein said diametrically opposed cantilevered portions include ramped undersides facing said first seal. 
     
     
       3. The fastener of  claim 2  further including locking tabs formed at an intersection of said first seal and said post. 
     
     
       4. The fastener of  claim 3  wherein said oval shaped cross section has a major axis and a minor axis, said post having a diameter formed along said minor axis and each of said cantilevered portions extending by a distance equal to one half of the difference between said major axis and said minor axis. 
     
     
       5. The fastener of  claim 4  wherein said head is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a slot in a first panel with a width substantially equal to said minor axis and a length at least equal to said major axis, wherein during insertion said minor axis is aligned with a width of the slot, and wherein after insertion, the fastener is rotated whereby edges of the slot are engaged in said first space. 
     
     
       6. The fastener of  claim 5  wherein said locking tabs are formed proximate to said minor axis. 
     
     
       7. The fastener of  claim 5  wherein said cylindrical retainer is constructed and arranged to be linearly inserted into a circular aperture in a second panel whereby said flexible elements engage the second panel. 
     
     
       8. The fastener of  claim 7  wherein said flexible elements are flexible fingers extending from cylindrical retainer toward said second seal. 
     
     
       9. The fastener of  claim 8  wherein said flexible fingers have portions of different lengths thereby allowing a range of thicknesses of the second panel to be engaged between said flexible fingers and said second seal. 
     
     
       10. The fastener of  claim 9  wherein said head includes a circular upper surface and an oval-shaped base and further includes frusto-conical walls formed between said circular upper surface and said oval-shaped base. 
     
     
       11. The fastener of  claim 10  wherein said upper surface includes a first blind aperture for receiving a tool. 
     
     
       12. The fastener of  claim 11  wherein said retainer is at least partially hollow and includes a second blind aperture for receiving a tool. 
     
     
       13. A fastener including: 
       a head with an oval shaped cross section;  
       a post supporting said head, wherein diametrically opposed cantilevered portions of said head defined by said oval shaped cross section extend outwardly from said post;  
       a first seal supported by said post thereby defining a space between said seal and said cantilevered portions for engaging a first panel therebetween, wherein said first seal forms a sealing relationship with the first panel about an entire periphery of said first seal;  
       a second seal supported by said post, separated from said first seal; and  
       locking tabs formed at an intersection of said first seal and said post.  
     
     
       14. The fastener of  claim 13  wherein said diametrically opposed cantilevered portions include ramped undersides facing said first seal. 
     
     
       15. The fastener of  claim 14  wherein said oval shaped cross section has a major axis and a minor axis, said post having a diameter formed along said minor axis and each of said cantilevered portions extending by a distance equal to one half of the difference between said major axis and said minor axis. 
     
     
       16. The fastener of  claim 15  wherein said head is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a slot in a first panel with a width substantially equal to said minor axis and a length at least equal to said major axis, wherein during insertion said minor axis is aligned with a width of the slot, and wherein after insertion, the fastener is rotated whereby edges of the slot are engaged in said first space. 
     
     
       17. The fastener of  claim 16  wherein said locking tabs are formed proximate to said minor axis. 
     
     
       18. The fastener of  claim 17  wherein said head includes a circular upper surface and an oval-shaped base and further includes frusto-conical walls formed between said circular upper surface and said oval-shaped base. 
     
     
       19. The fastener of  claim 18  wherein said upper surface includes a first blind aperture for receiving a tool. 
     
     
       20. A fastener including: 
       a head including a circular upper surface and an oval-shaped base with a major axis and a minor axis, and further including frusto-conical walls formed between said circular upper surface and said oval-shaped base;  
       a post supporting said head, wherein diametrically opposed cantilevered portions of said head defined by said oval-shaped base extend outwardly from said post;  
       a first rotationally symmetric umbrella-shaped seal supported by said post thereby defining a space between said seal and said cantilevered portions for engaging a first panel therebetween, wherein said first seal forms a sealing relationship with the first panel;  
       a second rotationally symmetric umbrella-shaped seal supported by said post, separated from said first seal;  
       locking tabs formed at an intersection of said first seal and said post, proximate to said minor axis;  
       a cylindrical retainer including flexible fingers extending from cylindrical retainer toward said second seal for engaging a second panel between said flexible fingers and said second seal, said flexible fingers having portions of different lengths thereby allowing a range of thicknesses of the second panel to be engaged between said flexible fingers and said second seal, wherein said second seal forms a sealing relationship with the second panel;  
       said diametrically opposed cantilevered portions including ramped undersides facing said first seal;  
       said post having a diameter formed along said minor axis and each of said cantilevered portions extending by a distance equal to one half of the difference between said major axis and said minor axis;  
       said head being constructed and arranged to be inserted into a slot in a first panel with a width substantially equal to said minor axis and a length at least equal to said major axis, wherein during insertion said minor axis is aligned with a width of the slot, and wherein after insertion, the fastener is rotated whereby edges of the slot are engaged in said first space and said cylindrical retainer being constructed and arranged to be linearly inserted into a circular aperture in a second panel whereby said flexible elements engage the second panel;  
       said upper surface including a first blind aperture for receiving a tool and said retainer being at least partially hollow and including a second blind aperture for receiving a tool; and  
       wherein said fastener is formed from a single integrally molded piece.